THE 5 PHASES OF RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE: HOW THE TOP TULSA CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS WORK

"BRING YOUR CUSTOM HOME CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO LIFE."

Want to get the house of your dreams, or enjoy a living space that is tailored to a unique location or lifestyle? These are the kinds of desired outcomes that lead new clients to luxury custom home architects like Perkins. We help them to take their vision and turn it into an actionable plan.

Like all residential architects in Tulsa, we expect new and potential clients to ask a lot of questions. The process of designing and creating a new house can feel overwhelming, especially if you haven’t gone through it before. Luckily, there is a proven step-by-step process we follow that will guide us from our initial meetings to a finished construction designed around your life.

The first step, of course, is to work with your favorite Tulsa architects or residential design firm. In this article we want to walk you through the five phases of the architecture process. Once you’re familiar with them you’ll know what it takes to bring your custom home construction project to life.

Phase #1: Programming

When building custom homes in Tulsa, good planning is a critical first step. During the programming phase, we will talk about the goals of the finished house in detail. Issues like size, layout, and usage are discussed. Samples and photos might be shown, and important preliminary decisions will be made.

Often, this phase of the home design process takes a little longer than new clients expect. However, because establishing the right goals is so crucial to achieving great outcomes, we actually feel like it can be the most important step. Until you and your team both know exactly what you’re trying to achieve, it’s difficult to create a workable plan or blueprint. And, rushing through the programming step could lead to expensive and time-consuming delays later.

By the end of the programming phase you should have a rough idea of what kind of house you want to build. You should also come away with a sense of how that plan works with your building site, and a preliminary budget for the project.

Phase #2: Preliminary design

The preliminary design phase involves much of the work that new clients think of when they imagine hiring an architect to design their house. This is when high-level decisions are made, especially in regard to square footage, the orientation of a home on a lot, and the division of public and private spaces.

As with the general goals established during the programming step, the preliminary design will serve as a plan that guides the rest of the design and construction process. For that reason, decisions and details need to be handled with great care, and it’s a good idea to have a trusted team of experienced architects who can not only guide you but spot any potential issues that might not be obvious.

At the end of the preliminary design you’ll award a contract for construction and begin development of a final building budget. Then, you can move on to the next phase, which is where your ideas really come into focus.

Phase #3: Design development

The design development phase can be fun and inspiring. This can be the step where you really appreciate the flexibility that comes with choosing to pursue a luxury home and architecture design. There’s nothing quite like watching your future home be filled in with the extra touches that bring it to life.

At this stage you’ll meet with your architecture team and finalize the design, adding the materials and finishes that suit your style and day-to-day living needs. From floors and fixtures to cabinets and counters, you’ll be selecting elements that don’t just match your tastes, but also work perfectly together.

By the end of the design development phase you’ll have detailed drawings your construction team can use, and a much more complete idea of what your finished house will actually look like when it’s built.

Phase #4: Construction docs and details

During this phase your architectural team will finalize all technical designs and provide details relating to the engineering and materials selection. There will be one last chance to review the choices made during the design development phase and to present the necessary documents to subcontractors.

Because this serves as a final check on the design and an opportunity to customize plans for individual builders, clear communication and attention to detail are both important. If your architectural team doesn’t have the patience or experience to take their time, your eventual move-in date could be delayed again and again.

Also notable during the construction docs and details phase is the need to submit applications for any and all building permits and ensure they are secured before the next step.

Phase #5: Construction administration

An architect’s job isn’t done after finalized plans have been submitted to subcontractors. They still need to be available to periodically oversee the job site, answer questions, and respond to change orders as needed.

At Perkins, we work side-by-side with custom home builders in Tulsa to ensure that the decisions made during the design phases carry through the building process. We monitor construction progress and building costs to make sure our clients aren’t forced to make compromises or deal with any unnecessary surprises.

There are few things as exciting as watching a dream come to life. That’s why we see every job through to the end and don’t quit until you’re completely satisfied. That commitment is why our portfolio is filled with success stories, and why so many clients refer us to their friends and families year after year.

Ready to start building your dream home in tulsa?

At Perkins, we have established ourselves as some of the best modern residential architects in Tulsa, OK. Our reputation doesn’t rest only on design quality, though – clients rave about our work because we treat them like friends and family. We take the time to understand their needs and develop plans that account for their tastes, style, budget, and schedule.

If you’re ready to get started on your custom home building project, or just want straightforward answers from a top architectural team, contact us today!